Turning primary home into rental property


We are relocating to another city and would like to rent our 2-family. I am expecting to notify the insurance and mortgage company. Has anyone done this recently and hit any snags. For instance, did your insurance say we only cover primary homes?
How much did your premium go up?
Could the mortgage company then call in our mortgage? Thanks for any input.

Categories: Mortgage
By CrownGardener | 09/02/2008 7:55 AM | Comment

Painting vs. Thuraseal on the back of our house


We were considering painting the back of our house but the guy we were going to hire said we should use thuraseal instead. Does anyone have any experience with this?
We have to do something to make the back look better, it has been painted over and has chipping cement,which we will be repairing. Thanks for any advice.

Categories: Exterior
By CrownGardener | 03/30/2008 11:09 AM | Comment

Getting rid of circulars/adverstisements


Just in case anyone is interested, (I am procrastinating and avoiding my real work), if you call 1-800-376-6222, you can request to be removed from the circular list.. which means no more receiving those annoying plastic bags with Kohls written across them and stuffed with ads..

By CrownGardener | 02/29/2008 3:05 PM | Comment

ADT security question


Curious if anyone else has experienced this: I canceled my maintenance contract with ADT about a year ago. Before that, I had no trouble with my alarm system. Since I canceled my maintenance contract, I have had several mysterious alarm events, two of which required someone to come out to my home. And of course I have to pay for this. It is infuriating. Anyone else believe ADT is setting off false alarms to squeeze more money out of their customers?

Categories: Alarm
By CrownGardener | 02/29/2008 2:28 PM | Comment

Brooklyn Window and Door


Has anyone who can provide feedback used Brooklyn Window and Door? They are at: 1889 Mcdonald Ave. Thanks.

Categories: Doors
By CrownGardener | 11/08/2007 9:19 AM | Comment

Wainscot / Wood paneling Question


We are replacing the wall paneling in one of the rooms of our home. (It is rotten, cracked and burned in various places.) Has anyone ordered wood paneling from either of these companies? If so, how did it go? Did everything fit correctly? We are having a skilled handyman, who we have worked with happily many times, install them.
the companies are: New England Panel and
New England Classic
Thanks for any input.

Categories: Woodwork
By CrownGardener | 10/29/2007 3:52 PM | Comment